Almost True

Gr 9 Up—In this sequel to When I Was Joe (Frances Lincoln, 2010), Joe, formerly known as Tyler and now living under the assumed name Jake, is dealing with a wealth of shifting information. His paternal grandparents are alive, his estranged dad has tried to be in contact with him, and his reckless mother is pregnant. He's still struggling with the guilt and confusion he feels about his friend Rio's death and his friend Arron's involvement in the murder and about knowing that it's his fault that his family has to continuously move. When the pressure becomes too great, he flees to London and tries to connect with his old life. However, it's not as easy as he thought it would be, and when thugs almost kill him, he realizes that he must deal with the truth and his family. The enormous cast of characters makes it difficult to keep track of the narrative thread, especially since Joe/Tyler/Jake tells his story through flashbacks and emails. With all of his bad decisions, Joe is a frustrating, unreliable narrator. However, that unreliability does make for a compelling read, since he successfully conceals the truth from even himself. Unfortunately, the soap-opera-worthy family drama muddies what could have been a powerful emotional journey. The neat ending is expected and lackluster, but the promise of hope is the right closing note. Fans of the first book will be interested in Joe's continuing adventures, but others can pass.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library